South London duo Arliston, comprising Jack Ratcliffe and George Hasbury, weave a new spell with ‘Monks of Lindisfarne’, the first glimpse of their upcoming album, Disappointment Machine.
Drenched in a warm, analog haze, ‘Monks of Lindisfarne’ is a lyrical tapestry that unravels the bittersweet symphony of romantic rejection. The track explores the heartache of unrequited love with a graceful composure. The song feels like a slow-motion moment of sending a confessional text, each beat and lyric mirroring the agonizing wait for a reply, a perfect portrayal of chest-tightening anticipation.
Reflecting on the song’s emotional tension, Jack Ratcliffe shares, “’Monks of Lindisfarne’ is a Peep Show reference. Jeremy claims he is doing the ‘honorable’ thing by telling Mark he loves Mark’s girlfriend. Mark replies, ‘No! An honorable man would have become a monk, or cut his nuts off, or gone to Morocco.’ This was one of many oblique references in a panicked draft of a long message to someone, attempting to say, ‘don’t worry if you don’t feel the same way; if you don’t, I’ll just become one of the monks of Lindisfarne.’”
Discussing the song’s expansive folky synth sound, George Hasbury notes, “We fought with the arrangement of this one. It originally was an entirely synth-based song, but it truly blossomed when we layered up the guitars. In the end, we began the whole record with just guitar. I love how this song starts as a folky little guitar riff and then explodes into this 80s synth chorus. The strings also add an extra layer of class to the production.”
‘Monks of Lindisfarne’ leaves listeners adrift in a sea of reflection, swept away by the intuitive and emotive soundtrack. It’s a journey through love and loss, beautifully captured in Arliston’s hauntingly poetic soundscape.
You can also listen to ‘Monks of Lindisfarne’ in our Folk This Way and Shades of Pop playlists.
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